Pakistan president departs for Lisbon to condole death of Aga Khan IV

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has left for Portugal’s capital Lisbon to condole the death of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, Pakistan’s foreign office recently said. 

The late Aga Khan, who led the global Ismaili community for nearly seven decades, passed away last week at the age of 88. His death was announced by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ismaili religious community.

A private funeral service took place at the Ismaili community center in Lisbon on Saturday, attended by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Spain’s King Emeritus Juan Carlos, Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. He was laid to rest on Sunday at a private ceremony in Aswan, Egypt.

“The President will meet His Highness Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan V, to extend his condolences on the passing away of late Prince Karim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan IV,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement on Sunday. 

“During the visit President will also meet President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.”

Following the late Aga Khan’s passing, his eldest son, Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, 53, was named the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary Imam of the community, in accordance with his father’s will.

The AKDN, founded by the late Ismaili leader, has been instrumental in various development projects in Pakistan, particularly in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral regions. Initiatives such as the Aga Khan Rural Support Program have focused on poverty alleviation, health care, education and cultural preservation, significantly contributing to the socio-economic development of these areas.

The Ismaili community in Pakistan, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, has benefited from these initiatives, which have also had a positive impact on the national economy through improved infrastructure and human development.